Cloth-cutting machine.



No. 75,092. Patented Dec. 2, I902.

m. LANGMAN. CLOTH CUTTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Fe b. 4, 1902.; (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheot I.

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No. 75,092. Patented Dec. 2. I902.

- M. LANGMAN.

CLOTH CUTTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Fab. 4, 1902) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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M; LANGMAN.

CLOTH CUTTING MACHINE.

(Application Med Feb. 4, 1902.)

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W/TNESSES UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAX LANGMAN, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y.

CLOTH-CUTTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 715,092, dated December 2, 1902. Application filed February 4, 1902. Saris-1N0. 92,506. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, MAX LANGMAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Cloth-Cutting Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a cloth-cutting machine in which the blade has a combined reciprocal and edgewise movement, the blade having a wide cutting end edge and a cutting side edge. The advantage of this construction is that as the knife descends longitudinally its wide end performs a downward out and then as the knife ascends it moves outward in the direction of its side edge and performs a further cut, so that the knife is active during both movements and does not have an idle recovery movement. This novel movement of the blade I secure by certain peculiar mechanism for mounting and driving it. The invention involves various other novelties, as will be fully pointed out hereinafter.

This specification is an exact description of one example of my invention, while the claims define the actual scope thereof.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention. Fig. 2 isaside elevation with parts in section. Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary elevations showing the action of the knife and the means foreffectingsuch action. Fig. 5 is a section of the clutch. Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the clutch-ring and the casing in which it acts. Fig. 7 is a detail section of the manner of mounting the knife, and Fig. 8 is a detail view of the springcatch for holding the presser-foot raised.

10 indicates the base of the machine, which may be of any construction desired, but is preferably an open-work framewith a sheetmetal top plate or covering. The base is adapted to lie flat on the work-table and is provided with rollers 11 to facilitate the movement of the machine over the table.

14 indicates a crescent-shaped shoe which is pivotally mounted on the base at the points 15 (see Fig. 1) and has its front edge pressed yieldingly down on the work-table by means of a spring 16 engaged with a strap 17 on the underside of the shoe. As the base is moved along the table the shoe 14; runs under the work and causes it to pass up over the top of the base to be acted on by the knife, as will fully appear hereinafter.

18 indicates a rigid frame-standard mounted on the base and-fastened to this standard, and projectinglaterally therefrom is a handle 19, whereby the machine is steadied and guided in its movement bodily over the worktable.

20 indicates a slide mounted on the standard 18 and carrying a transverse pin 21, which runs through a vertical slot 22 in the standard 18. This pin 21 is joined to a connecting-rod 23, located at one side of the standard and extending up to a crank-wheel 24, mounted fast on a shaft 25, which in turn is carried horizontally and revolubly in a rectangular box 26, forming the upper extremity of the standard 18. (See Fig. 5.) Upon the rotation of the shaft 25 the slide 20 is driven reciprocally on the standard 18. At the other side of the standard 18 the shaft 25 carries a balance-wheel 27, and within the rectangular box 26 are located the clutch and gear devices for driving the shaft 25. These devices comprise a pinion 28, loose on the shaft 25 and adapted to mesh with an areshaped rack 29, carried on a hand-lever 30, this lever being fulcrumed on the bifurcated upper portion of the standard 18 at the point 31 and having a scroll-like bar 32 fastened thereto, such bar being secured at its ends to the end of the rack 29. Clutch mechanism is provided for the pinion 28, which causes the pinion to impart movement to the shaft 25 on the downward movement of the lever and to turn freely on the shaft when the lever 30 moves upward. This clutch mechanism comprises, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a clutch-ring 33, mounted in a casing 34, fastened rigidly to the shaft 25. This clutch-ring 33 has a projection 35, adapted to engage the interior surface of the casing 34,

so as to fasten the clutch-ring to the casing.

36 indicates a radial slot formed in the ring 33, and this slot loosely receives a pin 37 on a flange 38 of the gear 28, such flange lying against the open side of the casing 34 to close it. (See Fig. 5.) The ring 33 also has a recess 39 formed in it, and in this recess is located a leaf-spring 40, which presses a loose pin 41, causing this pin to engage with the shaft 25. The action of the spring 40 and pin 41 throws the ring 33 to the left in Fig. 6, causing the projection 35 normally to engage with the casing. The ring 33 has a pin 42 fastened therein opposite the radial slot 36, and this pin carries a roller 43, running in an annular groove 44 in the interior of the casing 34. When the gear 28, with its pin 37, moves to the right in Fig. 6, the ring 33 is turned around the center of the pin 42 and the projection 35 is moved out of engagement with the walls of the casing 34. The pinion 28 is then disconnected from the casing 34, and consequently from the shaft 25, and may turnfreely around theshaft independently thereof. This is the movement executed when the hand-lever 30 is moved back to recover the position shown in Fig. 2. When the gear 28, with its pin 37, is turned in the opposite directionthat is to say, to the left in Fig. 6the projection 35 is caused to impinge against the walls of the casing 34, and the casing is then arranged fast with the gear 28, so that the shaft 25 is turned. This action takes place when the lever 30 is thrown down. It will thus be seen that by a swinging movement of the lever 30 a revoluble movement is imparted to the shaft 25, and this movement is made regular by the action of the balance-wheel 27. This is the mechanism by which the slide 20 is driven.

60 indicates a spring for throwing up the hand-lever 30.

45 indicates the knife, which has, as best shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, a vertically-disposed cutting edge 45 and an approximately horizontal cutting edge 45 said latter edge being inclined to produce a shear cut, as will be understood, and the lower part of the blade being curved out or widened, so as to produce a shear out on the upward movement of the knife. This knife has its upper end fastened in a head-piece 46, (see Fig. 7,) said head-piece consisting of two sections clamped together and one section carrying a pin 47, which passes through an opening in the plate and into a recess in the other section, thus rigidly holding the blade. Fastened rigidly in the head-piece 46 are two horizontal rods 48, which slide freely in pposite sides of the slide 20 and one of which is provided with a spring 49, tending to throw the rods 48, with the attached knife, leftward in Figs. 3 and 4, or, in other words, causing the knife normally to assume the position shown in Fig. 3. By sliding the rods 48 to the right the blade may be pushed out into the position shown in Fig. 4. The rods 48 are connected together and have a lateral extension running in an arc-shaped slotted arm 50,

which is carried on a rock-shaft 51, mounted in a suitable extension of the slide 20. On

the rock-shaft 51 is also fastened an arm 52, and this arm has connection by a link 53 with a lever 54, which is preferably of the elbow form and fulcrumed at the point 55 on a standard 56, erected on the slide and projecting up alongside of the standard 18. The arm 54 of the elbow-lever 54, such being the vertical arm that lies alongside of the standard 56, is formed with an obtuse angular slot 54 therein, and in this slot plays a pin 57, carried on a plate 58, adjustably fastened to the connecting-rod 23 by means of a screw 59. The plate 58 is located on the outer side of the connecting-rod, and the pin 57 projects through a slot in the said rod and extends beyond the rod, so as to enter the angular slot 54".

As the shaft is rotated and the connecting-rod 23 moved up and down like movement is imparted to the slide 20, causing the knife to move from the position shown in Fig. 3 upward until the lower edge 45 of the knife lies about in the plane in which the slide 20 is illustrated in Fig. 3that is to say, the knife has a movement equal approximately to that of its length or possibly a little more. Fig. 4 shows the knife half raised. As the knife rises its cutting edge 45 works against the cloth, and as the knife moves down its edge 45 is put in execution. The link or rod 23 swings from side to side, and as it swings the pin 57 playsin the slot 54 of the arm 54 of the lever 54, and thus the lever 54 is caused to move slightly on its fulcrum. At the end of the downstroke the knife lies as in Fig. 3, and then at the beginning of the upstroke the connecting-rod 23 is thrown to the right, causing the pin 57 to move rightward to the arm 54 of the lever 54. This movement of the lever throws downward the arm 52 and rocks the shaft 51, so that the arm is thrown inward and the rods 48 are moved laterally to the right, as in Fig. 4, thus causing the blade 45 to move outward to the position shown in Fig. 4 simultaneously with its upward movement. It will thus be seen that during this upward movement the edge 45 cuts against the cloth. Therefore both movements of the knife. are effective. By adjusting the position of the pin 57 the degree at which the knife is moved transversely may be regulated. The slot 54 in the lever 54 is of the form shown in order to allow the free action of the pin, the movement of whichis over an irregular course, owing to the movements of the connectingrod 23.

61 indicates the presser-foot,which is adapted to bear down on the pile of cloth being cut and which is slotted to receive the knife, as indicated in Fig. 1.. The presser-foot carries a roller 62, which runs on the pile of cloth, enabling the presser-foot to move freely over the cloth. The presser-foot is pivoted on a lateral extension .63 of the presser-bar 64, such pivot being intermediate the'ends of the presser-foot, and as the resser-foot bears on the cloth the roller 62 causes the presser-foot to be tilted downward toward its slotted end, thus causing its end firmly to engage the cloth,the knife 45 working meanwhile through the slot in the presser-foot. The presser-bar is vertically movable in an extension-frame 65 of the standard 18, and a spring 66 is arranged to hold the presser-foot on the work. The presser-foot may be thrown into inactive position, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, by moving up a bent lever 67, fulcrumed on the frame extension 65 and connected with a block 68, fastened to the presser-bar 64, such connection being elfected by a link 69. The block 68 is bifurcated or forked, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, and this part of the block is slidably engaged with the frame extension 65, so as to guide the vertical movement of the presser-bar and prevent the turning of the presser-foot. The lever 67 is bent, as shown in Fig. 2, and carries at its elbow a spring latch-pin 70. (See Fig. 8.) This latchpin is held normally in the position shown in Fig. 8 by its spring; but upon pressing the spring to the right, as the dotted lines indicate, the pin may be engaged with the upper part of the presser-bar. (See the dotted lines in Fig. 2.) This prevents the return of the presser-foot and enables the presser-foot to be easily held in raised position during the time that the machine is being engaged with or disengaged from the work.

In using the apparatus the presser-foot is raised and the shoe 14 of the base 10 moved under the pile of cloth to be out until the edge of the knife 45 engages the pile of cloth. Then the presser-foot should be allowed to return and bear on top of the cloth. By operating the hand-lever 30 a rapid movement will be imparted to the knife 45, and then the machine should be advanced bodily against the work, the knife 45 cutting its way through the work, and the lower portion of the framestandard 18 passed on through the cut. To facilitate this movement, the lower part of the frame-standard is reduced in size, as indicated in Fig. 1, and the standard is provided along its free edge with a vertical groove in which the straight rear edge of the blade 45 rests when the blade moves downward. (See Fig. 2.)

Various changes in the form and details of my invention may be resorted to at will without departingfrom the spirit of my invention. Hence I consider myself entitled to all forms of the invention as may lie within'the intent of my claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. Acutting-machine, havinga base adapted to be moved over the supporting-surface, a blade and its operating mechanism mounted on the base, a shoe movably mounted on the base, and aspring pressing the shoe yieldingly downward on said supporting-surface, for the purpose specified.

2. A cutting machine, comprising a base adapted to be moved over the supporting-surface, a blade and its operating mechanism on the base, a shoe extending around the front edge of the base and pivoted thereto, and a spring attached to the base under the shoe and connected with the shoe to hold it yield: ingly downward.

3. In a cutting-machine, the combination of a knife,said knife being elongated,and having a side cutting edge and an end cutting edge, the end cutting edge being disposed diagonally and the side cutting edge being curved outward at its lower end to produce shear cuts, and means for imparting to the knife a reciprocal and simultaneously sidewise movement.

4. A cuttingmachine, having a base, a frame-standard thereon, a slide mounted on the standard, a knife carried movably on the slide, and means connected with the slide and with the knife, said means driving the slide and moving the knife independently of the movement of the slide.

5. A cutting-machine, having a frame or support,a slide mounted thereon, aknife movably mounted on the slide, and means in connection with the slide and knife, whereby to drive the slide and move the knife independently of the movement of the slide.

6. A cutting-machine, having a frame, a slide mounted thereon,an elongated knife carried on the slide to move laterally with respect to the knife, and means connected with the slide and with the knife for operating the slide and forsimultaneously moving the knife in the direction specified.

'7. A cutting machine, having a framestandard, a slide mounted thereon, a knife carried by the slide to move with respect thereto, and means for driving the slide and moving the knife independently thereof, said frame-standard having a longitudinal groove therein receiving the back edge of the knife as the same moves toward the standard.

8. A cuttingmachine, having a frame, a slide mounted thereon, a knife movably carried on the slide, a drive-shaft, a connectingrod having cranked connection with the shaft and pivotalconnection with theslide,whereby tod rive the slide, and means actuated by the swinging movement of the connecting-rod, whereby to impart movement to the knife independently of the slide.

9. Acutter, havingaframe,aslide mounted thereon, a knife carried movably on the slide, adrive-shaft,aconnecting-rod havingcranked connection with the drive-shaft and pivotal connection with the slide, whereby to drive the slide, a lever supported from the slide and engaged by a part of the connecting-rod, whereby to rock the lever as the connectingrod swings, and a connection between the lever and the knife.

10. A cutting-machine, having a frame, a slide thereon, a knife movably mounted on the slide, a drive-shaft, a connecting-rod having cranked connection with the drive-shaft and pivotal connection with the slide, whereby to drive the slide, and means carried on the slide for imparting independent movement to the slide, said means being driven by the swinging movement of the connecting-rod.

11. A cutting-machine, having a frame, a slide thereon, a knife movably mounted on the slide, a drive-shaft, a connecting-rod having cranked connection with the drive-shaft and pivotal connection with-the slide,whereby to drive the slide, and means carried on the, slide for imparting independent movement to the slide, said means being driven by the swinging movement of the connecting-rod, and said means comprising a slotted lever and a pin on the connecting-rod, the pin playing in the slot of the lever.

12. A cutting-machine, having a frame, a slide thereon, a knife movably mounted on the slide, a drive-shaft, a connecting-rod having cranked connection with the drive-shaft and pivotal connection with the slide,whereby to drive the slide, means carried on the slide for imparting independent movement to the slide, said means being driven by the swinging movement of the connecting-rod and said means comprising a slotted lever and a pin on the connecting-rod, the pin playing in the slot of the lever, and a member adjustably mounted on the connecting-rod and carrying said pin, whereby to facilitate the adjustment of the pin, for the purpose specified.

13. A cutting-machine,.having a frame, a slide mounted thereon, a knife movably mounted on the-slide, a standard erected on the slide, a slotted lever fulcrumed on the standard, a rock-shaft carried on the slide, an arm on the rock-shaft, said arm having connection with the knife, a second arm on the rock-shaft, a link connecting the second arm with the lever, a drive-shaft, a connectingrod having cranked connection with the driveshaft and pivotal connection with the slide, and means on the connecting-rod, said means engaging the lever to drive it.

I 14. Acutting-machine,comprisingaframe, a knife mounted thereon, a drive-shaft, a connectionbetween the drive-shaft and knife, an operating member movably mounted on the frame, a rack carried by the operating member, a pinion meshed with the rack and mounted loosely on the shaft, and a clutch for connecting the pinion with the drive-shaft as the pinion turns in one direction.

15. Acutting-machine,comprisingaframe, a slide mounted thereon, a knife carried by the slide, a drive-shaft, a connection between the drive-shaft and the knife reciprocating to drive the knife, a pinion on the drive-shaft, a rack meshed with the pinion, an operating member carrying the rack, and a clutch engaging the pinion with the drive-shaft as the pinion turns in one direction.

16. A cutting-machine, comprising a base adapt-ed to be moved over the supporting-surface, a blade and its operating mechanism on the base, a crescent-shaped shoe extending around the front of the base and pivoted thereto, and a spring attached to the base and bearing on the shoe to hold the same yieldingly on the said supporting-surface.

17. Acutting-machine,comprisingaframe, a knife mounted thereon, a drive-shaft, a connection between the drive-shaft and knife, a movably-mounted rack, a pinion meshed with the rack and mounted loosely on the shaft, and a clutch for connecting the pinion with the shaft as the pinion turns in one direction.

18. A cutting-machine, having a presserbar, a presser-foot pivotally mounted thereon intermediate its ends, one end of the presserfoot being split to receive the knife of the cutting-machine, and a roller carried by the other end of the presser-foot, for the purpose specified.

19. In a cutting-machine, the combination of a frame, a knife, means for mounting the knife on the frame and supporting the same to move longitudinally and laterally, and operating mechanism for said means whereby to impart said movements to the knife.

20. A cutting-machine having a presserfoot, a presser-bar, a frame-section in which the presser-bar is slidably mounted,an operating device working between the presser-bar and frame-section for raising the presser-bar and a latch-pin carried on the operating device 

